Category Archives: books

Private investigator Richard Dick encounters his most challenging case yet when a prospective client unexpectedly appears in his office. Percival J. Buttersnipe is a multi-millionaire, an incorrigible snob, and thoroughly dead—that’s right, Percy is a ghost!

In this latest, rollicking release in the worldwide bestselling Richard Dick Mysteries series, Percy hires Dick to evict a group of cutthroats from his deteriorating mansion in Chicago’s stylish Lincoln Park. An uproarious tale of ghosts and gangsters, Dick unveils previously unknown secrets of life in the afterlife as he encounters ghosts around every corner. Will Dick become a ghost himself when gunfire erupts during a daring daylight bank robbery?

Thanks, Kim, for interviewing me on your blog. I have your list of questions, and…oh wait. First, let me say how important sites like yours are for new as well as established writers. It gives us a chance to pick up a few pointers from our peers—not to say writers will pick up any gold nuggets here today. I suppose the downside is that readers can see how whacked-out writers truly are.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, your list of questions. Allow me to begin.

I didn’t begin writing because I wanted to become an author. Seriously, I didn’t! In fact, I still fumble around, or hang my head and drag my toe through the dust at the very mention of the word. To me it seems, okay I’ll say it, pretentious to refer to myself as an “author.”

Very simply, I’m a writer. I write things—dark things, scary things, funny things, upside down things, right side up things, all manner of things that capture my interest. My writing is not intended to change the world or the lives of my readers. Nor do I aspire to reach lofty heights of literary distinction (as if that was in the cards, eh?). I write purely for entertainment—to entertain myself, and hopefully, my readers.

Why would I do such a silly thing? The primary reason behind why I began writing is simple. I wanted to see if I could. I don’t mean just write, but write to a standard where an established editor would read my work and say, “Holy cow! We have GOT to publish THIS!”

How hard could it be to write a book, right? I embarked on my writing career by spending a year tapping away on my first novel, “The Cave of the Gods.” I wrote, and wrote, and researched, and re-wrote, and edited, and wrenched it and tore it and sweated buckets over it until I finally had my first completed novel shipshape and ready for public viewing. I packaged it neatly, typed up a synopsis, and zinged out query letters to agents and editors across the land. Then I waited for an acceptance from somebody, anybody, and waited, and… Um, don’t go searching for “The Cave of the Gods” at bookstores or online. It resides comfortably on my bookshelf inside a three-ring binder. You guessed it. The book was a total piece of crap.

What did I learn from my first writing experience? I couldn’t write! Honestly! I couldn’t write, and that’s the dog dirt truth of it! I pondered my miserable existence for a while, and finally came to the dazzling realization that I had to get better.

I didn’t want to write another novel only to discover after another year of struggling that I’d created, “Return of Crap.” Therefore, I decided to write short stories and allow them to serve as my training ground. I could whip one out fairly quickly, and get a pretty quick response back from editors. You get it, stimulus-response. It’s kind of like when a doctor taps your knee with a hammer and immediately your foot flies up into the air, stimulus-response.

I stimulated a lot of editors before I received the response I was hoping for. “Vengeance of the Wolves,” a short dark fantasy was accepted for publication by “Crows Nest Magazine.” I think it’s out of business now, but it was an online magazine, one of those digital story mills. In fact, I believe I’ve contributed to killing more than one e-magazine.

If there is a moral to all of this, and you’re an aspiring writer, I suppose it’s to just start writing. No excuses, no more hedging, start writing now! Start this instant!

Um, hello? Are you still with me? If you are that aspiring writer I was just talking to, you don’t take direction very well, do you? That’s okay, I’ve never been one to take direction well myself.

If there is one thing every writer needs, it’s pure dumb luck to be at the right place at the right time with the right product. There are thousands of outstanding writers out there constantly snatching and grabbing at publishers. Let me tell you, boy oh boy, did I get dumb and lucky!

I had just completed my first Richard Dick Mystery, “Bite This!,” when I discovered a brand new publisher, Untreed Reads Publishing. I dangled my little tale in front of their editor and he bit! They not only took the bait, they shipped the story worldwide where “Bite This!” rapidly climbed bestsellers lists at e-bookstores around the globe! That little yarn earned 5-star reviews everywhere, and stayed on the overall Top 10 Bestsellers list at OmniLit for months! Later, Untreed Reads published my fantasy spoof, “Flying Solo,” as well as my subsequent Richard Dick Mysteries, “Witches Witch?,” “Naughty or Nice?” and now, “The Lincoln Park Horror.” Be watching for another novelette in the series, “Fanged!” when it arrives on e-bookshelves this fall—I really entertained myself writing this one.

The above works are available at the Untreed Reads Store—click the book cover above, it’ll take you there. Otherwise, go to your usual e-bookseller and download them to your Nook, Kindle or other reading device. If you’re a Sony user, look for my “Richard Dick Mysteries” bundle at the Sony Reader Store—you know how to do it. Don’t have one of those new gizmos? Not a problem, you can download them in standard pdf format directly to your laptop or PC.

I’m currently working on a full-length fantasy novel, tentatively titled, “The King of Stones. An Irish Ballad.” Soon, I will begin sending out a few sample chapters to my new, dedicated group of beta readers who collectively serve as my “Crap-O-Meter.” How will they react to what they read? I don’t know, but I’m edgy; let me tell you, I’m edgy.

Thanks again, Kim, for allowing me to visit with your audience. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

Wade’s Bio;

Wade J. McMahan has published five stories with Untreed Reads Publishing. In addition to his bestselling Richard Dick Mysteries series, Untreed Reads also released his fantasy spoof, “Flying Solo.” Furthermore, his stories have been published at such places as The Ampersand Review, Crow’s Nest Magazine, the df_Underground, and Pine Tree Mysteries.

More Richard Dick works are already in the pipeline, or under construction. Wade is also currently writing a fantasy novel based upon an ancient Irish legend.

Owner of a forestry consulting firm, Wade and his wife Glenda live in the green rolling hills of Tennessee where they enjoy an active life filled with family, friends, sports, travel and three spoiled dogs.

Track Wade on his website and blog, “The Incorrigible Liar” at Wade McMahan
and you can also find him on Facebook.

The idea for Return Engagement bounced around in my head for a great many years. You see, I always wanted to be a writer. My childhood playmate was my cousin who was a great artist. I envied her ability, but I always thought that if I had my choice I’d rather be a writer. Oh, the thrill of putting words on paper! The joy of creating my own private reality and peopling that world with characters of my own imagination!

But I never did anything about it even though the characters were crystal clear in my mind and the plot was fairly well developed. My husband encouraged me. “Try it,” he urged. “You can do it.” Well, you know how it is when you’re a young mother with children who need to be transported from activity to activity. On top of that I’m a teacher who has to spend time grading papers and planning lessons.

So, what motivated me to bring my dream to life? I have to give credit to my son. He’s my inspiration because he’s the reason I started writing in the first place. He came home one day and dumped a thick manuscript in my lap. “I wrote a book,” he said. “You can read it.”

Words can never express a mother’s astonishment and pride. At that moment, I was slightly in awe of this child that I had raised. “I make up stories in my head to amuse myself,” he told me. “I decided I might as well write them down.”

Wow! I had always done the same thing. I decided on the spot to write a book myself, but when I sat down in front of my computer screen, I didn’t have any idea how to begin. There were so many ways I could start the book! It finally occurred to me that it didn’t matter. If my words didn’t sound right, there was always the delete or backspace keys. From that moment on, I’ve been hooked on writing.

Don’t think that Return Engagement is my first book, though. It isn’t. My first book A New Leaf won the Timeless Love contest sponsored by Oak Tree Press, and they published it. It was a good story, but I wish I had the chance to rewrite it. I could make it so much better today. Why did I wait to write Return Engagement? Too scared. I wanted it to be perfect, and I wasn’t sure I could do it justice. I’d been writing for several years before I attempted it.

Now back to Return Engagement… Creating my characters was no problem at all. I’d thought about them for years. Everyone has his or her own personal hero, and Richard Lovinggood, the hero of Return Engagement, has all the qualities I’ve learned to admire in a hero. What qualities? Let’s see.

First, I want a hero with a little fire to him, a man who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Second, he has to be loyal and faithful because I’d never be willing to share. Third, I want a man with a little romance in his soul, a guy who isn’t afraid to bring you some flowers for no reason, call you to ask how your day is going, or hold your hand while you walk on the beach. Fourth, and I know this is silly, I really do love a nice pair of shoulders!

And then there was my heroine. I like women who aren’t afraid to follow their dreams no matter where those dreams may take them, and that’s just what my heroine does. She always thought with her head not her heart, but when she meets Mr. Right it’s her heart that engages, not her head.

With my two main characters created, I fleshed out the story, giving family and background for my hero and heroine. And then I had to write the book.

I wish I’d kept the original draft of Return Engagement. It would make you laugh to see how bad it was. I rewrote that book until I could practically quote it in my sleep, but each time I revised it, it was better. After several years of work, I submitted the book to Whiskey Creek Press and held my breath for several months until I heard back from them. I swear it took me ten minutes to get up the nerve to open the email, and then I jumped up and down for ten minutes when they accepted the book. Having this particular dream come true was every bit as wonderful as I thought it would be.

Here’s a blurb about Return Engagement.

Blurb:

Elizabeth Lane has heard the call of the four most seductive words in the entire English language: what might have been. Would you risk everything you hold dear to find out what might have been? That’s the choice which Elizabeth has to make.

Elizabeth is lucky, for she has it all, money, fame, a satisfying career and a devoted fiancé. Her humble beginnings are all but obscured, but she isn’t the kind of woman Senator Henry Lovinggood wants for his son, Richard. Senator Lovinggood plans to make Richard the President of the United States; he’ll need a woman from a wealthy, powerful family by his side. Ten years ago he broke Richard and Elizabeth up, but this time it won’t be so easy, for Elizabeth wants to know what might have been. This time she’ll fight back, a struggle which ultimately leads to kidnapping and attempted murder and alienates her from the man of her dreams.

Those of us who write undoubtedly have a passion for it. Why
else would we put ourselves through the difficulties of
creating a cast of characters with seemingly insurmountable
problems?

As an author of historical romance, I have noticed the high
volume of paranormal books lining the shelves of our local
bookstores. Publishers and readers alike clamor for these
stories and though the saturation level is high, there doesn’t
seem to be any sign the genre is tapering off. Moreover, it’s
not just bricks and mortar stores packing them in. E-book
sites all over the internet display page after page of
paranormal titles and what once thought a fad is now a
cornerstone of the billion-dollar a year romance industry.
No doubt, it sounds as if I’m opposed to such books. However,
I write erotic paranormal under the pen name Marie March and
have four titles due out this year. As well, I eagerly await
the next Sookie Stackhouse adventure from Charlaine Harris,
and the last installment in Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series.
What I enjoy about these authors is their ability to create
stories in which I’m able to suspend my disbelief and immerse
myself in an all too real fantasy-world.
This brings up the question of writing strictly for profit of
playing to the room. Should an author who stands out in his or
her own category write to a specific market? From what I have
read and heard, most Editors view this as a no-no. Yet, how
many publishers out there, big and small, have calls out for
paranormal manuscripts above anything else? With werewolf,
vampire and shifter stories in demand the conclusion may be
any submission will have a better than average acceptance
rate. Such logic will set anyone up for disappointment and
failure.

As a romance writer, you have to enjoy reading what you set
out to write. With a paranormal, you have to believe in the
unbelievable yourself otherwise the rudiments of your story
just won’t work. Therefore, I believe success in any form of
writing depends on the blend of two essential elements…your
talents and interests.
______________________________________________________

Blurbs:Insatiable by Marie MarchCavyn Sinclair is a centuries old vampire in search of conquest, but women are scarce in the wilds of Montana’s Glacier National Park. Then he discovers a faint light trail left in the wake of an exotic creature he never thought to encounter.To stay amongst her kindred, Loveday a Nymphomaniac in service to the House of Triune is forced to pay tribute to Medb on Beltane by participating in sexual revelry with any male she encounters, climaxing in Medb’s name.When Cavyn and Loveday come together the sex is raw and explosive. However, will they be able to sustain their passion or will Loveday fulfill her needs with Cavyn’s nest mate Priscilla?No matter how decadent the sex, Loveday longs for the freedom to choose her own destiny. Cavyn aids Loveday’s bid for freedom, yet the payment Medb demands may be more than Loveday is willing to pay.

BLURB FOR SUPERSTITIONS DESIRE
Superstition’s Desire, Wild Horse Press 2009
The lush landscape of the Scottish Highlands holds great beauty, but also great peril. Therefore, when Lady Arabella Wyndmere is spirited away from her English home, she is right to fear for her heart and her welfare. Held to a deathbed vow, Laird Connal MacRae is honor-bound to deliver Lady Arabella unsullied, to his deposed older brother, as a prize to soothe his ego. Nevertheless, Connal cannot deny the burning ache the spirited beauty has awakened in him. However, something far more dangerous stalks from the shadows. And in a climate of treachery and betrayal; the greatest risk of all could be surrendering to the depth of feelings of unexpected love.

Although I feel as old as the Acropolis at times, I started writing way back in my mom’s womb, where I mistook the umbilical cord for some cool writing implement. I write in various genres but seem to go back to the Young Adult target group. This age group is so full of spunk and dare you just never know what the characters will do next and that is why I love to write and have a teen as my main character. Also, it keeps me young. Some of my favorite authors are: Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Robert Ludlum, J. K. Rowling

ABOUT THE BOOK
Teens have a knack for getting into trouble and that’s why most of my stories are for young adults. I love to add mystery and some entity of the paranormal for this target audience to figure out the puzzle.

Doorman’s Creek uses a town legend and manipulates this legend with hypothetical questions, murders, missing teens, and a slew of characters that are all suspects. The interesting factor is that although there is an unknown entity in this book who this person is isn’t revealed until the very end and what part he plays.

Kyle Anderson, the 15-year old teen who is the main character and boy with the visions to see through the eyes of the killer and sometimes the victim, was fleshed out as a leader, but alos a boy who feels ‘housed-in’ by his over-doting and worrisome mom. The need to prove himself mature is always there and when the visions begin he fears his mother will now seclude him at home to protect him. With the help of his two best friends, Kyle, Shawn and Bradley will slowly begin to put an old ten year old case to the forefront and investigate the disappearances of two new girls.

However, I needed to add a building block to have Kyle prove his maturity to his mother. A murder of someone close to them finally puts these two on the same path and their lives suddenly take an unsuspecting turn when both have similar dreams mixed with visions that lead them to a few suspects.

At the end the one person they never thought would be the one to help them out comes to their aid…in a very strange way.

Vicky Wainright decides to visit Jake’s Island so she can be close to her sister Miranda. She is offered a nanny job by Jordan a very handsome and eligible bachelor who is raising his son by himself. She meets her sister’s waiter Noah and is quickly torn between loving him and Jordan. She gets kidnapped while babysitting along with Jordan’s son Derrick and her sister believes that Noah was one of the kidnappers. How will she feel about Noah after she finds out the truth? Will Derrick and her be rescued or be killed?

Q: Tell us About Your Book:
In Heartbroken Promises 2 the main character Vicky Wainright decides to move to Jake’s Island to be close to her sister Miranda who recently got married to the man of her dreams named Jake. Vicky isn’t so lucky in her love life. She is torn between two men Noah and Jordan. Things are further complicated when she is kidnapped along with a baby named Derrick who she is babysitting. To make matters worse, one of her kidnappers may be Noah. She isn’t so sure who she can trust and life for her isn’t so great when she gets the news that she is pregnant. Will she and Derrick be rescued or be killed? Who are the kidnappers? Being on an island isn’t always a vacation when there’s someone out to get you…

Q: Tell us a little about yourself:
I’m married and I have three teenagers and a cat named Tiger and a beagle named Patches. I love to read and write romance and mystery novels. I’m the published author of: Heartbroken Promises and Heartbroken Promises 2. I’m currently working on Heartbroken Promises 3. I’ve also started writing a book about my personal experience as a sixteen year old runaway. I bought a one-way ticket to Jekyll Island when I was sixteen years old because I was going to runaway and start a new life on an island and all my problems would be over. I was so wrong. I never made it to Jekyll Island. I would like for the book to be inspiring to others because no matter how bad your life is running away will not solve your problems. You should face your problems and deal with them and move on.

Q: Who has inspired you as an author?
I think that Carolyn Keene who has written the Nancy Drew mystery stories has been my inspiration my whole life. I used to go to the local library and check out all the Nancy Drew books that they would allow me to check out at one time when I was younger. I’ve probably read about all of them. I’ve always wanted to be a detective just like Nancy Drew and solve mysteries. Later on, after my Heartbroken Promises series are finished, I would like to write some more mystery stories since I have a lot of ideas on what I want to write about.

Q: What age did you discover writing? What is your earliest work about?
I discovered writing in middle school. I loved to write way back then. I would write short fictional stories in a notebook. My earliest work was of course about a fictional detective who would solve crimes at schools. My best friend and I in middle school vowed that we would be detectives together when we grew up. That didn’t happen but it sounded like a real good idea at the time. Plans change and people take different career paths sometimes.

Q: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your book?
The most interesting comment that I have received about my book is that it has an interesting plot and that it does have a lot of action in it.

Q: Do you have a specific time or place for writing?
During the day or at night is my best time for writing on my novels. I Definitely don’t write first thing in the morning or late at night. In the morning it takes me awhile to wake up and late at night I’m too tired to think. I like to sometimes sit outside on my back deck and write on my laptop. Also, I will sometimes take a notebook with me to a local park and while my husband fishes, I will write some more on my novel. Other than that, I will sit in the office and type on the computer.

Q: What is next for you?
I plan to write many, many more books. I have a lot of ideas on what I want to write about and I really enjoy writing. It is not a task to me it is like a hobby because I thoroughly enjoy it. I want to inspire others who may think that their life is bad not to give up and that they don’t run away from their problems. Life can be great even though there are ups and downs.

book excerpt for Heartbroken Promises2:

“Well, I don’t care about him and he can propose to someone else for all I care,” she said fighting back the urge to cry. “All he thinks of is only one thing anyway,” she said. “And that’s sex!”
“Miranda laughed. “Most guys do but that isn’t a reason not to marry a guy,” she said looking at her sister. “You’re just young that’s all,” she stated. “Come on,” she said tugging at her arm. “We’re going out for supper.”
“Supper…but what about lunch?” she asked surprised. Miranda laughed. “You slept through lunch silly,” she said tugging on her arm. “Come on…let’s go…” she said pulling her toward the door.

Today’s guest is Hank Quense an American author of humorous and satiric fantasy and scifi stories. We’ll be discussing his collection of twenty short stories called Tunnel Vision.

Tell us briefly about yourself.
I was born in the last century and I’m still here. Nothing else to report.

What have you had published?
I have over three dozen short stories and a few fiction writing articles that have been published. I also have a novel called Fool’s Gold in print and ebook editions and an ebook on fiction writing called Build a Better Story.

About Tunnel Vision: what’s the hook?
Live longer. Laughter is good for your health. Read this book and you may live longer.
So what’s in it for the buyer? Unusual characters, settings both strange and familiar, and bizarre plots are a few of the things you’ll experience and enjoy.
Aren’t you tired of reading scifi and fantasy stories that take themselves too seriously? Well, you won’t find any stories like that here. It doesn’t take anything serious. Politicians, Shakespeare, Lord of the Rings, the military, aliens, the undead, they all get cut down a notch or two.

What’s your favorite story in Tunnel Vision?
I think it’s MacBeth the Sequel. If you remember the Shakespeare play, he had three walk-ons who were witches. They showed up occasionally and made obscure predictions. They didn’t even have names; they were Witch 1, Witch 2 and Witch 3 in the script although they were known collectively as the Wryd Sisters.
Well, they’re no longer walk-ons. Now they are stars. They even have first names. They are middle-aged, obese, ugly and virginal. The Laird of the Loch has threatened to kill their pet, Nessie (Yeah, that’s right; their pet is the Loch Ness Monster). They hasten to the loch to stop the laird who is also the inventor of golf and golf tournaments. While they try to stop the nefarious laird, they also hope to meet a few lusty yeomen who will be willing to harvest their hymens.

Who is your favorite character in this collection?
Zaftig the Magnificent. He’s an alien from Zaftan 31B. I love writing about Zaftans. They make such wonderful villains. They are seven-foot tall, weigh over four hundred pounds, have eight tentacles and resemble giant squids. All Zaftans consider treachery and assassination to be social skills. They always list successful acts of treachery and murder on their resumes.

Do these stories have a message or a common theme?
All the stories are about characters who have tunnel vision. We all have it to some degree, but my characters have it to an extraordinary degree. This overabundance of tunnel vision generates much of the humor as my characters react in surprising ways.

What’s Fool’s Gold about?
It’s a retelling of the ancient myth about the Rhinegold. My version takes place in the future rather than in the Dark ages. I also replace fantasy creatures with two different races of aliens. A Ring of Power? Forrrgetttaboutit. Now it’s a Chip of Power.

And Build a Better Story?
In this book, I describe a process to put together a story. It’s based on my own writing experiences and on critiquing hundreds of stories. I think it will be a great resource for inexperienced writers.

What do reviewers or readers say about the collection?
Heres a review from the Readers Favorite web site: “Tunnel Vision is a collection of short stories with a science fiction theme. The stories, all previously published, have bizarre characters including: witches, the Loch Ness Monster, dwarves and a dead baseball player.
The stories are quick reads and quite amusing. This is a refreshing change from more serious Sci Fi stories.”

Does reading your stories have any possible side-effects?
A. I’m glad you asked that because there are precautions that should be taken by readers. First, check with your doctor to determine if you are healthy enough to take part in spontaneous laughter. Second, if you are suffering from a contagious disease such as the flu, wear a mask to limit the spread of airborne germs when you laugh out loud. Finally, no one should read my stories while driving a car or operating heavy machinery.

How can folks learn more about you and your stories?
My website http://hankquense.com has a lot of stuff about me and my stories and my writing. My blog http://hankquense.com/blog has several new posts every week. I blog about my books, the characters I create, life in modern times, book reviews and even an occasional rant.
Here is a Youtube link to a trailer for the MacBeth: the Sequel. It’s one of the stories in the collection.

Coming from Nowhere was originally conceived when I was a junior in high school, which was a long time ago. The main story has remained intact, but the book has gone through four MAJOR revisions. If you were to see the very first draft, you wouldn’t believe it turned into the final version. I was inspired by many different things, but mainly movies. The main ones were Star Wars (Episodes 4-6) and Blade Runner. It’s pretty evident how those two films shaped my book.

Like Star Wars and Blade Runner, my book focuses on the characters, mainly JD. Told in third person limited perspective, the reader learns about the world the characters live in through JD’s perspective. I chose to focus on her because she doesn’t understand her world. I have to build a new world on Mars and in the rest of the galaxy, one that the readers can understand. By using JD’s perspective, nothing is taken for granted. The reader learns, as she does, the different nuances of the places she goes and how to survive. She has the help of the other characters, but everything is fresh and new, just like it is to the readers.

One thing I strive to do in my books is to make my characters life-like. They have some characteristics that make them slightly above average, but they still have emotions and feelings. Even though JD is trained in a military academy, she still reacts to situations like a normal person: she gets angry and she even cries. She experiences love and loss and what it’s like to be betrayed. The other characters have flaws, too, and sometimes the line between the good and the bad is blurred. My hope is that readers will find a character they can relate to, which will make the book that much more enjoyable to read.

I am a HUGE sci fi geek, but I also really enjoy fantasy and horror. I always figured all of my books would be either science fiction or fantasy, but I’ve found that I’ve been branching more and more into horror. I really enjoy horror, but I never thought I wrote it very well. After all, it takes a lot to scare me, so I don’t think my writing is very scary. Coming from Nowhere has dark undertones, but it isn’t a traditional horror novel. I don’t have monsters (in the mythical sense) popping out of dark places and devouring people, but I do have very evil bad guys who can be considered monsters. Coming from Nowhere is more psychological horror than in-your-face blood-and-gore horror. The following is a list of the things that I think make the book dark and even a little scary:

1) People are afraid of the unknown, and there is nothing more frightening than not knowing where you came from.

2) Sometimes the most dangerous thing in the galaxy is you, even if you don’t realize it.

3) Even the people you know the best and love can have some of the darkest secrets.

4) There will always be people who want power and authority over others, and they will do anything to get it.

5) There aren’t always happy endings.

Things I Learned while Writing Coming from Nowhere
by Pembroke Sinclair

Coming from Nowhere was originally conceived when I was a junior in high school. Between then and the time it finally was published, it went through four MAJOR revisions. It was the first book I’ve had published, but I am constantly working on short stories and another novel. Writing is a process that you can constantly learn from, but the first book seems to be the roughest road. The following are the things I learned while writing Coming from Nowhere:

1) Revisions are a never-ending process. Even when you think you’re done, you can always make more changes. Eventually, you just have to say enough is enough.

2) Even though it’s good to be influenced by outside sources, especially classics, don’t try to copy them in your work. There’s a reason they are classics, and rehashing them won’t do them justice. Let your own voice come out.

3) Not everyone is going to like what you write, but that shouldn’t stop you from writing it.

4) Most writers write for the reader, and if the reader doesn’t get what you’ve written, then you’ve failed.

5) Rejection is part of the writing process, and you’d better learn how to accept it if you’re going to make it.

6) You don’t have to like your characters, but you have to believe in them. If you don’t, your readers won’t either.

7) Making up names for other places in the galaxy is hard, and spell check hates them.

8) If the reader is surprised when they read the big twist in your book, you’ve done a good job.

9) Hearing from readers who have enjoyed my book can make even the worst day better.